A few weeks ago, I was talking with a leader who seemed to have everything under control.
Her team was doing well, and important projects were moving forward.
But when I asked how she was doing, she paused and said, “I feel like I’m constantly behind.”
I hear versions of this all the time.
We keep responding, reacting, and checking things off, but never pause long enough to evaluate whether we’re spending our time, attention, and energy on what matters most.
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That’s why I want to share three questions I often come back to.
They always help me get clarity when I’m feeling overwhelmed.
Question #1. What’s Taking Up Most of My Attention?
If I were to ask you right now what’s most important in your life, I’m betting you’d say things like:
My family, my health, my finances, my relationships, my work, or maybe a goal you’re working toward.
But if we opened up your calendar, looked at your inbox, or reviewed how you spent your time this past week…
Would those same priorities show up there?
Sometimes they do.
Sometimes they don’t.
Because life has a way of filling our days with urgent requests, responsibilities, and distractions that pull our attention away.
That’s why attention is one of the clearest indicators of what we’re truly prioritizing.
So, answer this honestly: What got most of my attention this week?
Question #2. What Am I Avoiding?
This question’s a goody (but a doozy).
What’s the thing you’ve been meaning to do for days, weeks, or maybe even months?
A conversation.
A decision.
A project.
An email.
It’s usually not the biggest thing on your list.
It’s simply the thing you’ve decided you’ll deal with later.
The challenge is that avoided tasks rarely stay small.
They tend to take up more and more mental space the longer we carry them.
So ask yourself: What am I avoiding right now?
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This is pretty much the very thing you should prioritize.
Question #3. What Would Make Today Feel Successful?
This is the question I ask myself almost every morning: “When my head hits the pillow tonight, what would make me feel successful?”
I intentionally use the word “successful” instead of “productive” because they aren’t always the same thing.
Most days, success isn’t about crossing 27 things off a list.
It’s about making meaningful progress on a few things that truly matter.
When you’re clear on those things, it’s easier to make decisions throughout the day.
It’s easier to protect your attention.
And it’s easier to feel good about how you spent your time.
The Bottom Line
Think about your answers to those three questions.
Where has my attention been going?
What have I been avoiding?
And what would make today feel successful?
They’re so simple, and if you answer them honestly, they’ll redirect you and your energy to having an awesome day.
That’s why I come back to these questions so often.
They help me notice what’s really going on before another week slips by on autopilot.
I want that to happen for you.
You can take back control and feel successful every day.
Are you ready to get there?
Mridu
P.S. If you know you can make better use of your time and energy, that’s exactly what I help with. Learn about training here or explore one-to-one coaching here.
P.S.S. Friends don’t let friends feel less stressed alone. Send this to your people.
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